SOUVIK CHAKRABORT Y
THE MUSIC THAT
MATTERS TO US
Music is perhaps the most substantial and impactful non-violent
way of protest. Indian music has been through many of these
amalgamation of music and intellect. From doing a scavenger
hunt for soulful music in our folk songs to finding remarkable
beats in the words of the unheard language; the songs of protest
are certainly a great facelift to all genres of existing music.
Indian activists and musicians have a great repertoire of
using traditional music pieces for the cause of their lives.
MC Kash is one such artist, whose music bleeds beyond the
valleys of the Kashmir through the angry hip hop of the youths.
The songs for protest usually talks against the violence in his
land, and brims with the frustrations of a growing youth.
From human rights violations in Manipur to the border
issues of Kashmir, the band called Ska Vengers forge their
voice against all the political issues. It is great that that
some musicians in the country still have the audacity
to deviate from the mundane and politically correct
lyrical ventures of most mainstream artists. The songs
of dissent are like a waft of fresh air in a claustrophobic
world of regularities in the various themes of music.
TM Krishna is another Carnatic musician who had used his
musical abilities to root for the case against elitism in the
Carnatic music itself. Perhaps, it is only possible through
art that a voice can remain unadulterated and flexible. In
2016, TM Krishna got the Ramon Magsaysay award for the
healing effects of his music. From breaking casteism to
classist attitudes and divisiveness, Krishna’s music always
ask the difficult questions about the world around him.
From the Renaissance to the 21st century poets and poetess,
revolution has been the key to the creation of soulful
art pieces. Music is not an exception to this process. In
fact it will be a healthy exercise if the music of today’s
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time is enriched by the goodness of such musicians who
stand up and resist against the tide of mainstream.
It would be unfair though, to not include the popular soundtracks
from Bollywood which were at least close to the theme of
protest. Staying within its limits of romantic melodramas and
usual depiction of themes, some of these songs have actually
broken from the clutter and stood out amongst the rest.
Bandeh from Black Friday is a classic example of powerful
lyrics and questions about the Efficacy of violence and rage. A
befitting tribute to the lost lives of the 1993 Mumbai blasts.
Dealing with the sensitive issue of farmer suicides, Mehengai
Dayaan from Peepli Live was a succinct reply to the issue
of corruption plaguing the entire nation. The story of
the complicated inflationary pressures on the economy
came across simply through the lyrics of the song.
Bollywood has the beauty of calling the entire nation to act, by
the power of its outreach. The song, Khoon chala from Rang de
Basanti, is a path breaker in this sense. Not only did the song
instill the youth to be a part of the system to effect a change in
the system. It also gave the youth, an anthem to pick up while
they were resisting against all the wrong doings on its country.
Protests had not always been a case of voicing out against
the authority or those in power. But, Bollywood has also
gifted us songs like Give Me Some Sunshine, which is
predominantly against the educational system and the
adolescents living within the distressing family pressures.
Thankfully, the goodness of music has percolated deep
enough in the society to effect a conscientious boost to
the overall condition of the nation it belongs to.